Concord Community for
GREAT SCHOOLS

Who We Are

Concord Community For Great Schools is a group of concerned citizens that have been attending meetings and listening to different perspectives.

What We Believe

We feel more community involvement is needed regarding civic matters, especially in the area of education.

Our Goal

We hope to inform and empower younger/new members of the Concord community (especially parents), as we work together to improve our town.

Take Action

Get Involved

Make a Difference

Support Our Educators and Kids

Get Informed

Know The Issues

10/9/24: Town Meeting Survey: Input Needed

CCGS has been involved in many education and school-related issues and votes that have been resolved/approved at Town Meeting. The new middle school approval in the face of resistance, over-riding the FinCom and approving reasonable school budgets in 2023 and 2024, etc. Attending TM is VERY important, but we know many parents are simply unable to come.

The Town Meeting Study Committee was formed to review town meeting processes and to formulate recommendations to make TM more inclusive, effective, and responsive to the needs and desires of the town. The aim of the survey is to understand your barriers to participating and your opinion on potential improvements. The survey is anonymous and will take just 5-10 minutes to complete. Please take the survey: HERE

8/28/24: Boston Magazine: CCHS Ranked 5th out of 150 Area Schools, Message From Dr. Hunter

The public high school rankings are out and CCHS is in the 97% percentile of 150 Boston-area schools, scoring a #5 ranking! CCHS ranked higher than nearby Wellesley, Lexington, Hingham, Acton, Bedford, Winchester and Brookline. Last year, CCHS was ranked 28th, due to some faulty reporting of numbers. Congrats to all-involved.

Also, check out this great piece in the Bridge by Dr. Hunter. She speaks of the progress being made on the Ellen Garrison Building. "The middle school is thrilled to open the new building, The Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School. Both logistic and academic goals are set for a smooth transition later in the year and to realize the team model. I am furthering our work with The Robbins House and the Stand Up For Ellen group to hold a dedication ceremony."

8/19/24: UPDATE: Attempt to Change Middle School Building Committee Charter: Request For Re-Installation Withdrawn

On Monday 8/19, the SB disclosed that the person who petitioned the SB to re-install him back on the CMSBC withdrew that request. As such, the matter was not acted upon by the SB.

8/15/24: The middle school building committee (CMSBC) met August 15 and, after discussion, voted 9:2 on a motion telling the SB that they do NOT want the committee expanded and a person added. Not a single member spoke about any "skill gap" that would warrant a charter change (to add someone) and many said the committee was running very well/smoothly as-is. Also, it was clarified that ALL CMSBC members past and present will be honored at ceremonies, etc.

While the SB has the authority to change this important committee's charter and install someone on it "by decree", the message sent (and vote) seemed clear. The SB meets on Monday night 8/19 and will take up this issue. Agenda and zoom link. We hope the CMSBC the vote/message given will be taken into account.

8/11/24: Select Board Attempts to Change Middle School Building Committee Charter to Install a Specific Person

Apparently, an item was added to the July 22 SB Meeting consent agenda to change the charter of the CMS Building Committee (CMSBC). Mark Martines of the group "Citizens For Improved Concord Town Government"addresses this in a letter (link). It seems the chairs of the CMSBC and some on the SB were caught unaware. Apparently, when asked, SB Clerk Mark Howell said the goal was to change the charter to reinstall Court Booth back on the CMSBC, based on a request by Court Booth and yet this was not raised as "new business" by Mark Howell at a CMSBC meeting that occurred prior to the 7/22 SB meeting. Court was the CMSBC SC liaison but rolled off when he left the SC. New SC member Andrew Herchek is the new SC liaison. Apparently the SB will not publish Mark's letter, even though it is public record. Please read the letter and try to join the next CMSBC meeting this Thurs August 15 (7:30 AM), as they will be addressing this matter (Zoom link/agenda).

We are still learning all the details, but we believe any change to an important school-related Committee Charter should be made public and citizens should be invited to express interest if a new slot is opened, that Andrew Herchek should have the space/respect to represent his views, and that all-impacted should be included in discussions, especially when it involves adding someone to a Committee "by decree", and NOT based on a (any) need expressed by the Committee.

8/11/24: Middle School Re-Naming: Collaboration Signaled

Dr. Hunter and two members of the Stand Up For Ellen group had a seemingly positive and constructive July 11 meeting to discuss where things stand. This commentary was sent out by Stand Up For Ellen to their group, after the meeting: "Jen Turner and Michael Williams held their first collaboration meeting with Laurie Hunter today to discuss ways to work together to continue to pursue our goal of honoring Ellen Garrison in a manner that is equal to other luminaries of our town. According to both Jen and Michael it was a productive, collaborative meeting and they left feeling hopeful about the work ahead at honoring Ellen in the new school...and beyond." This seems a very good sign that compromise and collaboration will win the day.

7/5/24: FinCom Begins Guideline Process: New Leadership, New Tone

We are pleased to see that the FinCom is seeking to smooth the guideline process and seems to be striking a notably new cooperative and transparent tone. The recognition that the 2025 enrollment shift for the schools could have and should have been factored into (adjusted) guideline numbers (so yet another Town Meeting approval of funding over the guideline could have been avoided) is refreshing. The uniform treatment of capital improvement funding for the town and schools is also a positive development. Read more here.

Compromise:"The Ellen Garrison Building", at CMS

SC Vote: On Tuesday 5/21, the School Committee "reached for compromise" on the school-naming controversy and voted for the "Ellen Garrison Building", at the Concord Middle School. Read full Bridge Coverage here.

Select Board Vote: On Friday 5/24, the SB voted unanimously to remove the (non-binding) question regarding the middle school name proposed for a June 25th special election ballot. “The School Committee did take action..They reconsidered the middle school name and chose to recognize Ellen Garrison by naming the building. In doing so, I believe they have fulfilled their obligation to take Town Meeting’s recommendation into account.” -Mark Howell Concord Select Board (DEI Commission Liaison) Read full Bridge Coverage here.

To learn more about Concord's early role in the abolitionist movement and Ellen Garrison click here.

April 2024 Town Meeting Recap:

1) CCHS Budget: On Night 1, Warrant Article 20, the reasonable, lean 2025 CCHS Budget was PASSED by a wide margin, over the objection of the FinCom and SB (again). You can watch the actual vote happen here. Another win for our schools and for our town. Bridge Coverage.

2) Middle School Re-Naming: On Night 2, Warrant Article 22 (DEI Commission asks the SC to re-name the Concord Middle School the Ellen Garrison Middle School) PASSED by a wide margin. Bridge Coverage.

(There was an attempt at compromise made, via a Motion to Amend the warrant to ask the SC to honor Ellen Garrison in other ways, including by not limited to naming the main school building for Ellen Garrison. This motion was seconded and debated, but failed. You can read it and watch the presentation here.)

4/30/24: Reasonable CCHS Budget PASSED!

At Town Meeting 4/29, the reasonable UNDER guideline CCHS budget presented by our School Committee and Superintendent was PASSED.

Background: The FinCom 2025 guideline (a recommendation) for our Schools is a 3.26% increase, in a 3% inflationary environment (a flat budget). After cuts and a lot of work by Dr. Hunter and her team, CCHS is actually under it, at 3.08%. However an enrollment shift (traditionally not included in the Guideline calculation) meant less money from Carlisle and moved the CCHS budget total just $150K over, on the total amount.

The FinCom recommended a NO vote at Town Meeting on the CCHS budget, and the LWV and SB agreed with this position. Also note: Generally speaking, the "tone and tenor" of FinCom meetings with the SC and or Superintendent have been acrimonious, with interruptions and "talking over" the Superintendent common. Dr. Hunter references this in a new memo, expressing her frustration with the lack of support. If you watch this 2/15 meeting, you will see the FinCom Chair start the meeting by unexpectedly presenting slides depicting the schools in a negative light. Some have commented that this is well-outside the purview of the FinCom.

5/4/24: TM Article 22: Middle School (Re)Naming

In December, 2023 the town’s volunteer DEI Commission put forth a TM warrant (22) “urging” the selection of Ellen Garrison as the name of the new middle school. Read more here. The School Committee initiated a public process, and received over 300 letters/emails and 22 unique submissions for names and voted on Feb 6, 2024 to retain the current name – “The Concord Middle School". While 10 out of 15 spoke in favor of Ellen Garrison at the in-person 2/6 meeting, 160 letters/emails were received supporting CMS while 94 favored Ellen Garrison, according to the SC. Almost 70% of students surveyed support retaining CMS as the name, along with the CMS Principal and our school DEIB Director. Read more here. Superintendent Hunter supports this name as the culmination of 3+ years of effort to unify the 2 old middle schools - read her statement here.

The opinion of town counsel is that the SC has the sole right to name the school. You can read it here.The SB voted 4:1 to recommend affirmative action on Article 22 at TM. SB Chair Henry Dane asserted this matter should not be before Town Meeting, but was overruled.

4/3/24: Facilities/Bathrooms Warrant At CCHS Field PULLED

Background: The Joint CC School Committee voted 10/7/23 5 to 0 (Booth and Rainey abstained) to advance a $2.3M warrant article for the 2024 Town Meeting to replace the rented porta-potties and design and build a suitable facility (that was not completed 10 years ago), with costs split 3:1 between Concord and Carlisle. Read More The SB and FinCom signaled that they would NOT support this warrant. A risk of waiting is that costs will continue to rise (making the ask harder next year). There could be ADA complaints or plumbing code violations cited. Here is the excellent presentation by SC Chair Tracey Marano: Watch.

Breaking News: Following community input and the Superintendent's advice, the School Committee has withdrawn the facilities warrant to refine the scope/proposal, including design, renderings, and budget, for future consideration.

4/10/24: CONGRATULATIONS to Andrew Herchek & Tracey Marano for Winning the School Committee Election!

CCGS endorsed Andrew and Tracey as the best choices for increasing cooperation and respect on the SC, while also working to support our excellent school system in a fiscally responsible way that honors the needs of all Concordians. We congratulate them on their big win! Official results here.

Poor Cell Service Is A School Safety Issue

School safety is paramount and the KNOWN issue of poor cell service is a potential disaster waiting to happen. The Concord SB needs to unblock the logjam and provide adequate cell service to cover the town (including CCHS), as a matter of school safety and basic common sense.

Upcoming Meetings/Events

"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world."

Nelson Mandela

Concord Community for GREAT SCHOOLS